Durham’s Merle Norman plans to move to South Square area Shop closes at Northgate

Shop closes at Northgate: The Merle Norman cosmetics shop at Northgate Mall has closed in preparation for a move to a new location in the South Square shopping center, which also houses Sam’s Club and a SuperTarget.

The shop has been in business since 1960, according to a previous interview with the owner and manager. Attempts to reach the owner last week were unsuccessful.

Allison Savicz, a spokeswoman for Northgate, said in an email that the shop closed at Northgate on New Year’s Eve. She confirmed that the owner plans to re-open the shop in the South Square shopping center off of Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard.

***

New SECU branch to open: State Employees’ Credit union is opening a new branch on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard on Wednesday.

The branch, at 4055 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. in the former Golden Corral restaurant location near the South Square shopping center, will have three drive-through lanes and a drive-up ATM.

“We are very happy to offer this new branch location in Durham, and look forward to serving our membership with greater accessibility and convenience,” SECU Senior Vice President Warren Peacock said in a prepared statement in a news release.

***

(Another) update on Whetstone Apartments: The Virginia-based publicly traded real estate company behind the development of the 203-unit Whetstone Apartments project downtown is targeting for the project to be completed in the fall.

Armada Hoffler was previously developing the project through a joint venture with Durham-based Greenfire Development, but is now the sole developer, according to a spokeswoman for the project.

The company bought the land from Greenfire for $2.6 million, and started construction in the third quarter of last year. The company closed on an $18.5 million loan to fund construction in October.